1. Make it personal. After you create a profile on LinkedIn, reach out to former coworkers, but don’t use the site’s canned language. Personalize your invitations with a note that reminds people why connecting with you is a good idea.

2. Get kudos. Ask for online recommendations from past and current colleagues who can describe your accomplishments. Aim for at least one from each of your previous four jobs.

3. Learn by example.Search by job title to find people doing what you’d like to do. Read their profiles, see how their experience stacks up with yours, and note the career paths they took.

5. Join the conversation. Sign up with LinkedIn groups that reflect your professional interests. Get involved by posting comments and links to articles and websites, answering questions, and recommending others. Don’t just network when you need something!